Businessman found guilty of assault and insulting words

Businessman Ututa’aloga Charlie Ulia has been found guilty of three criminal charges.

Yesterday, District Judge Fepulea’iAmeperosa Roma ruled that the prosecution had proven their case beyond reasonable doubt.

The ruling came after a one-day hearing held last week.

Ututa’aloga was found guilty of two counts of assault, one for assaulting of Fata PemaneSeuseu and the other for SeuseuPitoFaalogo.

The third charge is for insulting words.

The charges stemmed from a land dispute in the village of Afega.

The defendant was represented by lawyer, Te’o Richard Faaiuaso, while the prosecutor was Vaisala Afoa of the National Prosecution Office (N.P.O.).

The dispute apparently came to a head in June last year when Fata Pemane Seuseu and Seuseu Pito Faalogo visited the land in question.

“For the charge of assault for Fata Pemane Seuseu I find that the prosecution has proven the charge beyond reasonable doubt,” Judge Fepuleai ruled yesterday.

“The second charge of assault for Seuseu Pito Faalogo, I find the prosecution has also proven the charge beyond reasonable doubt. For the charge of insulting words I find the prosecution has also proved reasonable doubt.”

He scheduled the sentencing day for 17 May 2017.

HEARING

Earlier this month the court heard from SeuseuPitoFaalogo’s wife, EsetaFa’alogo who stated that she remembered the day in question.

“I remember that on the 28th of June, 2016 my husband wanted to go and see the land being disputed. “We went with Fata PemaneSeuseu and his wife Tilialo and my husband Seuseu and I.

“When we got to there, my husband Seuseu Pita Faalogo and Fata Pemane got out of the car and they started walking towards the other side of the road where the land is.” It was at that point when Ututa’aloga arrived.

“While they were talking a vehicle coming from inland stopped suddenly. I saw a man jumping out of that car and that’s when I saw clearly it was Ututa’aloga.

“I heard him calling out to my husband and Fata Pemane Seuseu to get away from the land. I also heard Fata Pemane Seuseu telling him that they are standing on the government road.”

The Court heard that Ututaaloga told Seuseu and Fata Pemane that the land belongs to Afega.

“At that time Tiliola and Fata Falevalu were already at the scene. I could hear Ututa’aloga swearing at my husband and Fata Pemane Seuseu.”

Mrs. Fa’alogo said when she arrived at the scene; she saw her husband’s face covered in blood.

“While I was taking photos Ututaaloga and one other person who was with him called out to me not to take any pictures,” she recalled.

“By the time MauloloTavita arrived at the scene we were walking towards our car and then we left.”

Tiliola echoed Ms. Faalogo’s testimony.

“When Ututa’aloga got out of his car he went straight up to my husband Fata Pemane Seuseu and started punching him,” she said.

“I ran to where he was at and I was calling out to him to please stop.

“My husband fell on the ground and I saw Ututa’aloga punching him on the head while the other guy that was with him was kicking my husband.”